Integrally formed nozzle structure with soft and hard plastics

ABSTRACT

A hard and soft plastic integral nozzle structure includes a built-in supporting frame member which is made of hard plastic, and at least having a left and a right clipping rod. A soft nozzle is formed integrally by inrection to wrap the the left and right clipping rods with a soft plastic. A taper board and a peripheral groove are provded in the center of the nozzle. The elasticity of the two clipping rods of the supporting frame made of hard plastic material brings an excellent anti-leaking effect for the water outlet crevice(s) at the center of the nozzles as well as a fully open status thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to An improvement of a nozzlestructure, especialy to an integrally formed nozzle structure with softand hard plastics, which comprises a soft type mouth piece made of softplastic material. A flexible supporting frame made of hard plasticmaterial is integrally provided inside of the mouth piece, so that whenthe user may hold the mouth piece in his/her mouth to drink water,he/she may have the soft feeling on the mouth piece and effectively stopthe water flow with the press from the hard plastic supporting frame andits flexible clipping rods. Besides, an awal-shaped block and anperiphal groove are provided on the water outlet such that when thewater outlet may wholly open is pressed, so that when the water outletcan fully expanded when being pressed. Unlike those prior arts, thepresent may allow great amount of water to flow out of the container.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Arts

[0004] People usually need to replenish lost water due to sweat intaking outdoor exercises such as jogging, mountain climbing, or cycling.As an exerciser cannot easily obtain water as at home, he/she generallywould prepare a special water pouch for carrying water or drink for theneed supplementing water in exercise. Said water pouch may be carried onthe back of the exerciser and would not hinder the exerciser fromexercising.

[0005] As the special water pouch for outdoor exercises uses a conduitto draw water for the user's sucking, it has a nozzle structure on thewater pouch. In soft nozzle structure as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos.5,601,207, 5,730,336, 5,791,510, 6,032,831, and 6,070,767, the outerappearance of the nozzle is similar to a nipple of a feeding bottle,which is made by injection of soft plastic material such as PU orsilicone. The front end of the nozzle has a plat or cross shape wateroutlet crevice. The peripheral plastic board of the tiny outlet crevicenormally has a natural elasticity so that when the side walls of thewater outlet crevice are pressed, the peripheral plastic board wouldclose and stop the water flow.

[0006] When in use, the user holds the soft nozzle in the mouth andclenches by teeth and lips so as to press the water outlet crevice to bein open status. Operating along with suction by mouth, the user candrink the water in the pouch.

[0007] Although soft nozzle of this type makes sucking easier withoutrequiring much effort, water would leak from the nozzle simply due toaccidental squeeze which makes the lips of the nozzle turn outside. FIG.1 shows a sectional view of the nozzle A according to U.S. Pat. No.6,032,831, wherein the heightened lips B are provided on two sides ofthe water outlet C, so as to obtain better function of stopping water bythe high elasticity of the boards of the lips.

[0008] When the nozzle A is pressed vertically (as shown in FIGS. 2 and3), the water outlet C is pressed by the board to turn outside likelips. When turning to the angle L, the lips are connected with the boardon the root portion D. Therefore, the angle of the opening is limited.As such, the water pouch of this type might not be applicable to juicewith fruit flesh. In view of the above, the present discloses a softtype nozzle with greater opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The primary object of the present invention is to provide anozzle enabling the user to have a soft and comfortable feeling forholding it in the mouth, and in the meantime to obtain a betteranti-leaking effect of the soft nozzle. Besides, when being pressed onthe water outlet, the opening of the nozzle can greatly expanded.

[0010] To obtain the above-mentioned object, the present inventioncomprises a soft covering plastic materials and a hard supporting frame.A combining frame is provided on the hard supporting frame. Clippingrods covered by soft plastic material made integrally to be a nozzle areextended symmetrically on the combining frame, so as to provide in thecenter of the nozzle the function of stopping water. Meanwhile, a taperboard and a peripheral groove are provided in the center of the nozzle,wherein a water outlet crevice is provided in the center of the taperboard so that when the water outlet is being pressed, it can fully open.

[0011] The foregoing object and summary provide only a briefintroduction to the present invention. To completely appreciate theseand other objects of the present invention as well as the inventionitself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art,the following detailed description of the invention and the claimsshould be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughoutthe specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer toidentical or similar parts.

[0012] Many other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the nozzle according to U.S. Pat.No. 6,032,831.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the nozzle according to U.S.Pat. No. 6,032,831 showing the water outlet in open status when beingpressed.

[0015]FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the nozzle according to U.S.Pat. No. 6,032,831 showing the water outlet in open status when beingpressed.

[0016]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken from FIG. 4.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 4.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention showing thenozzle being pressed by the clench of teeth.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the invention showing thewater outlet in fully open status.

[0021]FIG. 9 is a front view of the invention showing the nozzle beingpressed to let flow the water.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a general view of an embodiment according to theinvention.

[0023]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle according to theinvention.

[0024]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the invention as shown inFIG. 11 showing the nozzle being pressed on the water outlet crevice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principlesof the invention, reference will now be made to the embodimentillustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describethe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of thescope of the invention is thereby intended, alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of theprinciples of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4˜6, the nozzle 10 according to the presentinvention comprises a hard plastic supporting frame 11 and a coatinglayer 12 of soft plastic material.

[0027] The supporging frame 11 made by the injection of hard plasticmaterial comprises an integral frame 13, a threaded fastening ring 14and two symmetrical clipping rods 12. An opening 13 is provided in thecenter of the supporting frame. The extended ends of the clipping rods12 separate, and positioning pillars 17 are protruded from the externalside of each clipping rod.

[0028] When the supporting frame 11 is placed in the mold, thepositioning pillars 15 disposed on the outer side of the clipping rodacts as the positioning of the mold, and a propping mold in the mold canbe retractable to insert into the opening 16 such that the board pressagainst the inclined pressing section 18 of the clipping rods 15. Thetwo clipping rods 15 are squeezed to open at a tiny angle. After thepropping mold props and opens the two clipping rods 15, the soft plasticmaterial is injected into the mold so that the exterior of thesupporting frame 11 is completely wrapped by the soft plastic materialwhich forms a soft coating layer 12 to comfort the user's mouth contactduring sucking.

[0029] After removing the propping mold, the two hard plastic clippingrods 15 are pressed to separate and in an open status. As the proppingmold is removed, it naturally forms a resuming status and retracts theclipping stress a (as shown in FIG. 6). The elasticity coefficient ofthe soft plastic coating layer 20 around the periphery of the supportingframe is smaller than the retracted clipping stress a on the clippingrods, so that an excellent clipping force forms and naturally providesan excellent anti-leaking effect when the water outlet crevice 19 at thecenter of the front section of the nozzle 10 is closed.

[0030] As the layer of soft plastic 12 is formed, it is combined with athickened board 20 which is in taper shape. A peripheral groove 21 isprovided on the roots of the taper board 20, so that a water outletcrevice 19 is formed in the center of the board. When the water outletcrevice 19 of the nozzle 10 is being pressed, it can fully open.

[0031] Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 for the soft type nozzle 10according the invention. When the nozzle 10 is hold by the lips 30 ofthe user, and subsequently clenched by the teeth 31, the soft layer 12of the nozzle transforms (as indicated by arrow E), and the lips 22separate to a distance M and to expand the water outlet crevice 19 (asshown in FIG. 9) to be in an open status for the fruit flesh in thejuice to pass through the outlet.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 9, when the user holds the nozzle 10 by mouth,the user can hold the soft coating layer 12 of the nozzle by anappropriate force exerted by the upper and lower jaws. The nozzleaccording to the present invention has a layer of soft plastic materialon the upper and the lower sides of the nozzle 10, so that when the softcoating layer 12 is hold in the mouth, the user enjoys the comfort ofsucking the water the same way as that from general soft nozzle.Comparing with the convenional nozzle shown in FIG. 3, as the presentinvention is provided on the root periphery of the taper board 20 aperipheral groove 21 with a thin board, when the lips 22 of the taperboard 20 turn outside, the border (as indicated by arrow E) between thetwo lips 22 extends laterally due to the different elasticility andtransformation of the boards. As such, the water outlet crevice 19expands and allow the water/juice to flow out.

[0033] When the holding force is released, the left and right sides ofthe clipping rods will automatically clip to dose the water outletcrevice 19 in order to attain a definite anti-leaking effect which ismuch better than that for the traditional soft nozzle.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 10, the nozzle 10 according to the invention canbe applicable to a water pouch 50 for biking. The user may carry thewater pouch on his/her back and drink the water through the nozzle 10 bya conduit 51 connected to the water pouch.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the nozzle 10 a according to theinvention may be provided with separate water outlet crevices 19 a inthe front end thereof. The water outlet crevices 19 a also comprise ataper board 20 and a peripheral groove 21. When the soft layer ofplastic 12 is pressed vertically (referring to FIG. 7), the two wateroutlet crevices 19 a expand (as shown in FIG. 12).

[0036] Concluded above, the invention refers to an improvement of anozzle made integrally with soft and hard plastic materials. A hardsupporting frame is hidden inside of a layer of soft plastic. By way ofthe elasticity of two clipping rods, the water/drink can flow out of thewater pouch for the user's drinking and for stopping water flow afterused. A taper board and a peripheral groove are provided on the wateroutlet crevice, so that when the board is being pressed, the water flowmay be enhanced, which is especially applicable to juice with fruitflesh.

[0037] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together may also find a useful application in othertypes of methods differing from the type described above.

[0038] While certain novel features of this invention have been shownand described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is notintended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understoodthat various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

1. An improvement of an integrally formed nozzle structure with soft andhard plastic, comprising: a supporting frame made by injection of hardplastic material, at least having a complete frame and two clippingrods, wherein a opening is provided in the center of the frame; and acoating layer made of soft plastic material, which is made by injectionto wrap the supporting frame, and a water outlet crevice being disposedin the middle of the front end of the supporting frame, characterized inthat: a threaded fastening ring is provided in the end of the supporingframe, in order to hold the water outlet; a taper board and a peripheralgroove are provded in the center of the nozzle; the elasticity of thetwo clipping rods of the supporting frame made of hard plastic materialbrings an excellent anti-leaking effect for the water outlet crevice(s)at the center of the nozzle, as well as a fully open status thereof. 2.The improvement of an integrally formed nozzle structure with soft andhard plastic according to claim 1, wherein the taper board is composedby the left and right lips on the two sides of the water outlet crevice,the border of the two lips is a thin board of the peripheral groove;when the nozzle is being pressed, said border of lips transform andextend laterally
 3. The improvement of an integrally formed nozzlestructure with soft and hard plastic according to claim 1, wherein thetaper board may be provided with two water outlet crevices.